Integrity- People of God

God’s forgiveness comes by the atoning blood of Jesus. A just and holy God could not ignore the rebellion of mankind against Himself. God had declared the wages of sin is death and He must be true to Himself and His word. God said He has given the life blood on the altar to make atonement for the souls of mankind. God in His patience waited for mankind to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus, through His life, death and resurrection.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJ

In the Old Testament, the blood of animals was given to covered for sin just for a time, but was not able to take awaysin. It was a foreshadow that pointed to the death of Christ which would pay the total debt of mankind for sin, with His atoning blood. It was the love and mercy of God that offered Jesus as our Savior.  It was the Grace of God that provided the payment for sin and gave all mankind another chance to be redeemed from the punishment of eternal death, through the death of His Son Jesus.  

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the alter, it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.  NIV

Ephesians 1:7 In Hi we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace NKJ 

Some people think they can come to God for forgivenessbecause He is a Kind Father or because He is a loving God orbecause they feel sorry about the wrong they had done.  They would be trying to approach God on the basis of another way other than Jesus. We can only come to God for forgivenessthrough the blood of Christ. Forgiveness of sin is based on the payment for sin, which is Jesus’ life’s blood. A just and Holy God will judge sin and cannot allow sin to go unpunished. God is true to His character and His word and someone will die for the sins of mankind. We can accept the payment God has provided for us through Christ or stand in judgement before God based on our own works which cannot recompense for our sins. 

All have sinned therefore all must make a payment for sin, now the question is whose blood will stand and pay the wages of our sin?  We can stand before God on our own merit and be judgedaccording to our sin and receive eternal death or we can accept the blood of Jesus as our payment in full, as a ransom that will set us free.  Jesus’ death is for the atonement for our sins and we can only stand before a holy and just God through faith in the redeeming blood of Christ.  

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJ

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God. NKJ

People can be remorseful and sorry for what they have done and yet refuse to change, to repent, or change the way they actand live. They may have regret for the wrongs they committedbut refuse to accept Christ as their Lord and Savor to receiveHis forgiveness.  To repent is to change one’s direction and mindset to the things of Christ and not to simply live in regret. Esau gave away his birth rights for a simple meal and cried with remorse and regret but without a changed heart of repentance. There is a difference between regret and the sorrowof this world which leads to death and that of Godly repentance that leads to salvation.

Genesis 27:34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, Bless me- me also, O my father!” NKJ

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world produces death. NKJ  

The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin, in that He will bring those things to our conscience thought that we need to changeand then He will give us the strength to be transformed. The world is constantly accusing, belittling and degrading people because their faults and downfalls which may lead people into a state of depression and hopelessness. Godly repentance will help us to see our errors and He will assist us in change the way we live. We will be able to view things according to the light of God’s word and receive forgiveness of sin because of Christ. 

We can turn from worldly regret to godly repentance by receiving by faith the saving grace of God in Christ and accept the blood of Jesus which takes away our sin. We are not to bury our heads in the sand, as though nothing is wrong or as though we are without sin but we are to confess our sins and acknowledge God in truth in the midst of our situation and focused our eyes on Jesus. 

We can change our mindset from the negative pondering of our past and cast those thoughts on Christ.  When negative and discouraging thoughts come we should choose to focus our thoughts on His word and place our eyes on the goodness of God by thanking Him for His goodness, mercy and lovingkindness. We should only glance at the problems that are before us, so that we may know how to intercede and pray, but our focus, our attention and our eyes are looking to God. 

1 Peter 5: 6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. NKJ

Psalms 62: My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. NKJ

Psalms 121:1-2   I will lift up my eyes to the hills- From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. NKJ

When we come to Christ we become regenerated where the old person is made into a new creation. The Fatherhood of God is seen as we are adopted into the family of God in rebirth through our faith in Christ. The love of God is shown through the atoning death of Christ for the forgiveness of sin. Those who refuse and reject Jesus, refuse the love and forgiveness of God. Forgiveness cannot be based only on the character of God’s love or Fatherhood and it cannot be separated from the savingfaith in the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as our Savior. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJ 

Ephesians 3:17 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love. NKJ